Mixed Prepositional Phrases - Intermediate Exercises

Mixed prepositional phrases at intermediate level require closer attention to tone, cause, contrast, role, and time. The B2 phrase set combines familiar phrases such as in vain, in spite of, by mistake, on purpose, on foot, and in time with more formal or abstract phrases such as as a result of, due to, in terms of, on behalf of, as a rule, and in the long run.

At this level, several options may seem grammatically possible, so the whole meaning matters. A reason can be introduced with due to or as a result of, but a source needs according to. A contrast needs in spite of, while a replacement needs instead of. On behalf of is about representation, but in charge of is about responsibility. Time phrases also differ: for the time being is temporary, while in the long run points to later consequences. If two answers sound possible, identify the function before choosing the phrase.